A Closing Ceremony was held on Saturday, 27th May, 2017 to mark the end of the 19th ASSITEJ World Congress and International Theatre Festival for Children and Young People. Performances by a local Youth Orchestra and Dance For All showcased the wonders of supporting and sustaining the Arts for Young People.
Yvette Hardie, President of ASSITEJ International and Director of ASSITEJ South Africa, was welcomed by a standing ovation from the crowd and remarked upon the numerous accomplishments of the event. Over 380 seminars, workshops, panel discussions, symposiums, and performances were successfully run over the 12-day period.
Not only did this ceremony mark the end of the 2017 event, it also was an opportunity to look ahead to ASSITEJ’s upcoming Artistic Gatherings in China (2018), Norway (2019), and the 2020 ASSITEJ World Congress, which is to be held in Japan. A wonderful performance by Dance for All concluded the evening with the incorporation of South African and Japanese flags to celebrate the passing of the baton.
